“What there is every prospect of is that oil-rich, fishing-rich, renewable energy-rich Scotland will certainly be wanted in the European Union.

“And it’s also the case that a country that wants to be a part of the European Union is more likely to end up as part of the European Union.”

Mr Salmond insisted that Scotland would negotiate on membership of the EU while still part of the UK.

“"There’s no argument in the question because this is a negotiation that will take place after the constitutional referendum of 2014, of course Scotland will still be a member of the UK and therefore, by definition, negotiating from within the European Union,” Mr Salmond said.

“Negotiations will take place following the referendum, but that is before Scotland becomes independent and negotiations will take place therefore, by definition, from within the European Union, that point is unarguable.”

José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, last year indicated that an independent Scotland would have to apply for EU membership from scratch.

“The idea that oil-rich, fishing-rich, renewable energy-rich Scotland will not be wanted as part of the European Union is simply incredible,” Mr Salmond added.